Festivals of North East India
Top 10 Cultural Festivals of Northeast India!
Northeast India is a treasure trove of traditions, music, dance, and food that’ll make your Instagram pop and your heart race. It’s where the ancient meets the audacious, and where every celebration is steeped in stories and rituals passed down for generations.
Here’s our rundown of the Top 10 Cultural Festivals you need to crash in Northeast India.
Nagaland
Hornbill Festival – Nagaland’s Epic Culture Bash
A 10-day extravaganza in Nagaland’s Kisama Heritage Village (December 1–10) where 16 tribes show off their warrior vibes, funky headgear, and serious dance moves. The Hornbill Festival, dubbed the “Festival of Festivals,” is like Coachella meets a tribal showdown. You’ll see war dances, log drum beats, and folks rocking feathers and tiger teeth (don’t worry, it’s all folklore chic).
From stone-pulling to indigenous wrestling, every moment is Insta-gold. There’s even a chilli-eating contest for the brave — or slightly unhinged. Plus, the night market and rock concert vibe make it a total blast. Traditional Morungs (tribal houses) are recreated for cultural immersion, and Naga artisans showcase handicrafts, wood carvings, and shawls that tell ancestral tales.
Assam
Bihu – Assam’s Party-Through-the-Year Fest
Assam’s Bihu is less a festival and more a lifestyle, with three versions to keep the party going. The biggie, Rongali Bihu (mid-April), marks the Assamese New Year with seven days of feasting, folk songs, and dances that’ll have you twirling in no time. Think colourful skirts, rice beer, and community vibes.
Magh Bihu (January) is all about bonfires, buffalo fights, and feasts under the stars, while Kati Bihu (October) is quieter but still soulful, with lamps lit on bamboo poles in the fields to bless the crops.
Head to Guwahati for the best action, and don’t miss the Brahmaputra Beach Festival for some bonus boat races, sand sculpture competitions. It's like a year-round carnival, Assam style - complete with Xorai (cultural symbol) and Bihu Husori (community dance troupes).
Arunachal
Ziro Music Festival – Arunachal’s Hippie Haven
Ziro is a music fest in the middle of nowhere. The festival is normally held towards late September in Arunachal Pradesh’s Ziro Valley. Hosted by the local tribes, including the famous Apatani, this four-day gig blends indie bands, folk tunes, and breathtaking paddy fields. It’s like Glastonbury but with bamboo huts and rice beer.
What makes Ziro extra special is its offbeat, eco-conscious vibe. Artists play on stages made entirely of bamboo, and festival-goers camp under starry
skies in a natural amphitheatre setting. The music line-up is as diverse as the landscape, with indie rock, fusion folk, and world music filling the air.
Started in 2012 by some music nerds with a dream, it’s now a magnet for soulful wanderers. You’ll make friends from around the world while dancing barefoot on dew-kissed grass. Pack your boho hat and get ready to dance in the mountains.
Meghalaya
Nongkrem Dance Festival
Meghalaya’s Nongkrem Dance Festival (November) is a Khasi tribe classic that’s all about giving thanks for a great harvest. Held in Smit village near Shillong, it’s a five-day spectacle of young women in colourful gear and heavy jewellery, dancing alongside guys wielding swords and yak-hair whisks.
The festival centres around the Ka Pomblang Nongkrem ritual, a thanksgiving offering to the deity for peace and prosperity. Elders chant prayers, while tribal chieftains preside over age-old ceremonies. Women wear the elaborate Jainsem, their traditional attire, paired with gold ornaments that shimmer in the mountain light.
The whole thing feels like a big family reunion—except with better outfits. It’s a perfect peek into Meghalaya’s matrilineal culture, and Shillong is nearby for cosy stays and scenic hill views.
Assam
Majuli Music Festival
Majuli is the world’s largest river island. The Majuli Festival (November, Garamur) in Assam is your chance to visit at Stay at Majuli. This four-day bash celebrates Majuli’s Neo-Vaishnavite roots with folk dances, puppet shows, and Assamese grub. Tribes from all over come together, keeping their unique vibes while sharing the same stage.
The festival showcases the legacy of Srimanta Sankardev, the saint-scholar who founded the Satras (Vaishnavite monasteries). You’ll see monks in saffron robes perform Ankia Naat (devotional theatre) and Sattriya dance, one of India’s classical forms born right here.
Stay in a bamboo homestay, explore mask-making villages like Chamaguri, and brace for a cultural overload. The Kaziranga National Park is not very far from here. You can stay at Kaziranga and visit Majuli on a day tour.
Sikkim / Arunachal
Losar – Buddhist New Year
Ready to ring in the Tibetan New Year? Losar (February/March) is a Buddhist bonanza in Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh, especially in Tawang, Lachung, Darjeeling and Gangtok. Monasteries get decked out, monks perform masked Chaam dances, and locals sling back Chaang (local wine—handle with care).
The celebrations begin with house cleaning and offerings to the protector deities. Butter lamps are lit, and homes are adorned with fragrant juniper smoke and prayer flags. You’ll see archery contests in Sikkim, colourful processions in Tawang, and festive dishes like Sel roti and Khapse (deep-fried pastries) being shared.
Arunachal
Myoko Tribal Festival
The Myoko Festival (late March) in Ziro Valley is not for the faint-hearted—it’s a month-long celebration by the Apatani tribe. Think rituals for prosperity, pig sacrifices (don’t freak out, it’s tradition), and shamans chanting like rockstars.
This ancient celebration rotates between three villages—Diibo-Hija, Hari-Bulla, and Hong—every year. The spirit of communal bonding, hospitality, and ritual purity defines this event. Women brew Apong (millet beer) while the elders bless homes, fields, and families for health and prosperity.
The best bits are days two to four, with folk performances, processions, and rice beer flowing freely. If you want off-the-grid tribal vibes, this is your jam. Just bring comfy shoes and an open mind—and be ready to learn a few Apatani words from the locals!
Meghalaya
Cherry Blossom Festival
Who needs Japan when you’ve got Meghalaya’s Cherry Blossom Festival (November, Shillong)? This is when the hills bloom with pink Himalayan cherry blossoms, and the vibe is pure magic.
Expect fashion shows, local wine tastings, Japanese-Korean food stalls, and even a Mr. & Miss Shillong pageant. Cultural performances blend local Khasi traditions with global trends, from Korean pop dance groups to traditional folk choirs.
The highlight of the festival is a modern twist on Northeast charm, with international music concerts where local and international musicians perform. Organised by Meghalaya’s tourism folks, it’s a huge crowd-puller.
Meghalaya
Wangala – 100-Drum Beatdown
The Garo tribe’s Wangala Festival (second week of November) in Meghalaya is nicknamed the “100 Drum Festival,” and boy, does it deliver. This post-harvest bash is all about thumping drums, bamboo flutes, and tribal dances that’ll make your head spin.
Wangala is a tribute to Misi Saljong, the Sun God, for a bountiful harvest. The dance known as Dama Gogata involves synchronised steps with large drums and ornamental spears, accompanied by chants of thanks. Women wear traditional Dakmanda skirts and dance in rows, reflecting unity and gratitude.
Warriors in feathered hats, women in woven skirts, and a whole lot of rice beer are what you can expect here. It’s a Thanksgiving for the harvest, but it feels like a rave in the hills. Head to Garo Hills for the authentic experience, and don’t be shy—join the dance! It’s the kind of festival that makes you feel alive.
Manipur
Sangai Festival
Manipur’s Sangai Festival (November) is named after its adorable state animal, the endangered Sangai deer, and it’s a 10-day love letter to Manipuri culture. Held in Imphal, it’s a whirlwind of traditional dances, martial arts, polo (yep, it started here!), and indigenous crafts.
You’ll catch boat races on Loktak Lake, see Manipuri Ras Leela dance performances, and learn about the unique Meitei and hill tribe traditions. The festival also features modern fashion shows, adventure sports demos, and a grand food court showcasing Manipuri and tribal cuisines.
It’s a tourism booster, so expect a global crowd and a festive buzz. Stay in Imphal for easy access, and get ready to be wowed by Manipur’s charm. This one’s a total gem—think of it as Northeast India’s cultural kaleidoscope, spinning with grace, power, and pride.
So, what are you waiting for? Trade your cobblestones for bamboo stages, mountain bonfires, and jungle drumbeats. These cultural festivals aren’t just events — they’re adventures wrapped in dance, devotion, and divine food. Come with an open heart, leave with a hundred stories.
Let the Northeast woo you like never before!
Hello – I am Partha – from NBTT Travel Solution Private Limited and a regular traveller to all these festivals.
If you wish to join me, you may get in touch with us. Contact details are available at the Contact Us page.